Training for 12 dozen!

[wingate_52]

People concentrate on the target at 100 yards, when moving to a shorter distance, continue to concentrate. it is ot neccessarily easier to score well at a shorter distance. Everything must be done consistently, for each shot at all times.

[Random_guy]

Just get used to shooting lots of arrows if possible. Try and shoot at least 12 dozen in practice, even if you're too tired to shoot the last few well, the more you do it, the better your endurance will be, but also it will help you to learn how to shoot better when tired, using more back muscles, relaxing more etc..

[greydog]

I've found that wearing a few extra layers helps, there's nothing more tiring than trying to keep warm, even if it's just a gentle cold breeze it saps your energy.
If you get the chance on the longer distances just dawdle back to the line, as you walk back try and relax, just make sure you aren't last
A chair is a good idea, sit down between ends. Hydration is also very important.
When you're practicing, shoot 7 arrow ends, enough to help with stamina, but not so much that your form starts to break down after a few hours of shooting

[Mick]

I'm with Geoffretired on this one. Fom an upper body point of view I'm sure I could shoot two Yorks back to back (though I've never tried) below the waist it would be a different story. At the end of 12 doz its the legs and feet that ache the most that coupled with the mental fatigue is what does for me.
Never had a problem with aching arms or fingers from shooting ( and I'm old and scrawny) I suppose you could build up your general endurance with exersise, walking, swimming, cycling etc. How you'd train your brain to withstand the mental strain I've no idea.

[whisky]

Originally Posted by johnnyb

Hi All,

Just did my second york yesterday and it dawned on me that I wasn't physically up to shooting 12 dozen arrows in competition! It made me question what people do to prepare for a days shooting. I'll admit it's no marathon, but it does seem to be an endurance event. Also the action of drawing the bow to shoot 100 yards seems to be more energy sapping than doing exactly the same for 60 yards - but I know it's not.

Can you all tell me how you do it? I have tried the power breakfast, the pre tournament warm ups and the banana and fruit pastille diet throughtout the day but by the time they blow that final whistle I am absolutely flattened!

TIA

Johnnyb

I always look on it similar to when I ran long distance. You have to build up to the distances and the number of arrows. so mix in a variety of both with your training, have some easy sessions (relax and socialise) and have some harder 100 yard moments. Personally I always first work on some part of my form and then shoot a set number of arrows at a set distance (not necassarily a recognised round) so I can monitor my performance. I will then have a session another day where I shoot a full round - usually a York or FITA.

It also sounds as though you could do with improving your stamina a little too. Maybe general fitness or try reversals?

Practice with a purpose and keep a log/diary so you monitor your progress.

If you are finding the longer distances difficult is your form changing? Are you raising your bow shoulder to aim rather than bending at the hips?

Don't mess with your usual diet for comps - eat what you would normally and as others have said keep hydrated. Drink little and often it's so easy to forget whilst shooting for a day

Hope that helps!

[bluebow]

It's easy to forget just how much exercise an archery shoot provides. Take a recurve archer shooting 40 lbs (~18kg) during a double FITA (288 arrows).

Over the two days, the archer will have pulled over 5000kg. Walking to and from the target to score and collect arrows, the archer will have walked over 7.5km.

Remember this excludes sighters, pulling arrows and walking around the shooting line.

It's no wonder we feel tired at the end of shoot.

And you mustn't forget to add trips to the cake stand!

[Little Miss Purple]

It's easy to forget just how much exercise an archery shoot provides. Take a recurve archer shooting 40 lbs (~18kg) during a double FITA (288 arrows).

Over the two days, the archer will have pulled over 5000kg. Walking to and from the target to score and collect arrows, the archer will have walked over 7.5km.

Remember this excludes sighters, pulling arrows and walking around the shooting line.

It's no wonder we feel tired at the end of shoot.

And you mustn't forget to add trips to the cake stand!

How true this is!!!

I find it difficult to decide on which bit of advice is best....

1 - shoot 100 (or so) arrows every day

2 - shoot every other day